First Aid

Call Emergency number 112 in case of accidents or emergencies.

Lesser wounds and minor illnesses can be treated in the home. It is a good idea to have a good First Aid Kit in the bathroom and maybe some important phone numbers on the refrigerator door.
Band-aids in various sizes, wound-dressings, Ace Bandages, aspirins and disinfecting creams are the most important ingredients of the kit.

It’s a fact that most accidents happen within the home itself. Especially if there is a baby or a toddler there, then care has to be taken to store away all dangerous chemicals such as toilet cleaners, washing liquids etc.

It is important to take regular courses in First Aid and to be always prepared for accidents that can happen in the home and elsewhere. It is also necessary to know how to react to certain situations when, for instance, a toddler swallows something. Your life or someone else’s can hang in the balance.

Every year, 6 - 8,000 people attend first aid courses offered by the Icelandic Red Cross. According to an agreement with the Icelandic government, the Red Cross supervises first aid education, provides education material and ensures that the most recent methods are being used. The Red Cross also offers courses on psychosocial support and organizes emergency assistance in response to major accidents and natural disasters.

You should keep your doctor’s telephone number, that of your closest relatives and of the nearest health clinic in your First Aid box and/or on the front door of your fridge. It is also important to keep info about possible allergies in the family, drugs being used and other health related issues readily available at all times.